Sindh Government Contributes Wheat To WFP For Monsoon Flood Victims

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a contribution from the Government of Sindh province of 8,333 metric tons of wheat for distribution to people affected by the recent monsoon floods in Sindh.

ISLAMABAD-- “We are extremely grateful for this contribution, which will be vital in ensuring we can maintain our supply line to the people who still desperately need our help,” said WFP Pakistan Country Director Jean-Luc Siblot. “It also sends a message to donors across the world that Pakistan is doing all it can to assist the flood victims.”

The contribution from the Sindh Government – enough to provide food to nearly 730,000 people for one month – makes up one-third of the 25,000 tons of wheat pledged by Pakistan to WFP during last month’s visit to the country by WFP Deputy Executive Director for Operations, Ramiro Lopes da Silva.

Following a request from the Pakistan authorities, WFP began its emergency operation to provide food rations to people affected by the 2011 floods on 12 September. To date, the agency has succeeded in reaching more than 2.4 million people in both Sindh and Balochistan.

However, WFP still faces a funding shortfall of US$107 million to achieve its target of providing food assistance to the most severely flood-affected up to February 2012. Without further urgent donations, supplies will start running out before the end of November, making it impossible to maintain a full ration. This will leave WFP with no option but to cut the ration size or number of people assisted from December.

While flood waters have begun to recede in recent days, many communities remain cut off and thousands of square kilometres of crops have been lost, with a devastating effect on the livelihoods of millions of people. Farmers say it will be months before they can plant again, leaving them temporarily dependent on food assistance.